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Adoption
lafayettegirl
member
Question about Utah
lafayettegirl
member
in Adoption
We've been referred to an agency or two in Utah (we're in VA). We've got our homestudy, background checks, etc. all complete. However, in order to submit our application in Utah, they are asking for all the background checks and finger prints. Do we have to do all of this again for Utah? Virginia will not make that paperwork available to other states, but our homestudy clearly states that we have met all background requirements in VA. Our current agency said they have never run across another agency that did not just accept the homestudy.
The background checks and fingerprints aren't a problem, but the time delay and the money are. I don't want to have to do new prints and checks for each agency we send our profile to, this seems ridiculous.
Am I mistaken or looking at this the wrong way? Is everyone else getting multiple background checks and fingerprints done if they are submitting their profile to mulitple agencies?
Cervical Cancer Survivor since 2007
TTC Since 2008
IUI#1 = BFN
IUI#2 = BFN
IUI#3 = BFN
IUI#4 = BFN
IVF #1 = BFN
FET #1 = BFN
FET #2 = BFN
FET #3 = BFN
IVF #2 = BFN
IVF #3 = BFN
FET #4 = BFN
FET #5 = BFP!!! 06/10/2011
Miscarriage 06/21/2011
Adoption Application Submitted 09/2011, Personal Documents Submitted 11/18/2011, Home Visit 12/16/2011, Officially Waiting!!! 01/21/2013 MATCHED!!!! 01/24/2013 Baby Boy Born!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Question about Utah
We applied/had our file on hand with two Utah agencies. We did not have this issue. We did have this issue w/another state though.
UT and the agency should accept a letter w/the dates of your clearances from your state. That's what we ended up using... even though it was a big head ache and nearly had me in tears. (No one wanted to budge and I had to do all the research myself.
Good luck!
PS- I am sure you've received warnings about UT... just be careful about lots of research on what agency you use. There are some great ones but some rotten ones too.... I know that goes for all states but the problems seem to be compounded by UT laws.
This is all the crap that no one ever tells you when you sign up. It makes me want to quit. We now need a bazillion profile books - which we can't seem to get made up for less the $20 a book, more paperwork, potentially more background checks. Oh, and our agency has just told us the will not release our homestudy to anyone other than another agency, though they will consider releasing to an adoption attorney only if the attorney can absolutely prove the BM is getting counseling. That means we can't get our homestudy sent to any attorney just to have on file.
The costs for all of these applications and books are now starting to add up - which is eating into our money that we would put towards actual adoption costs. Plus, with some of these new agencies we are also looking at potential medical, living and attorney costs for the BM.
Between the money, the unwillingness of agencies to talk to each other and share paperwork, and the wait, it is a wonder anyone actually makes it to the point of being matched. I'm really frustrated, angry, confused, and ready to quit. (Not that we would actually quit, but you know what I mean.)
We ran into something similar to this, and we adopted in Utah. We were Utah residents, though, and our clearances were done in Utah. I'm not en expert on it, but I think it's the way that babies in Utah are placed through agencies. We had our home study done privately so that we wouldn't have to redo it for each agency, but we did need new clearances.
The way it was explained to us, the background check and abuse screening had to be done "in the name of" the placing agency. It was overlooked, though, (we were matched and placed - almost - before they realized we had the wrong clearances) and we ended up having to do a temporary custody order through the courts on a holiday - no fun! We got the clearances quickly, though, and it was all straightened out.
I don't want to be a downer about the money and your frustration, but the profile books, clearances, etc. are all part of the cost of adoption. And in the grand scheme of things, they're a very small part of that cost. You have to have a good profile before you can be matched and even get to the point of spending the other money. $20 per book doesn't seem like that much when you think about it being the only "contact" you have with potential birth parents before you are matched. Keep your head up and take it one step at a time!
You sound so frustrated.... I remember those days... well one in particular that it all seemed impossible. While I agree w/PP, the costs are small in comparison, at the time it's overwhelming and it's the little costs that I didn't think about that drove me nuts.
Hang in there.. know that one day, hopefully soon, you'll be on this side offering support to another family. The process is anything but easy.
I feel ya!!! We have gone through some of this as well. It is so much more time (when we've already invested so much time from the home study process) and the costs just keep adding up as we try to branch out from our current agency to a nationwide agency. I completely feel your frustrations, the time and costs are preventing us from saving more towards the adoption costs, not to mention travel and the things well need for baby once we get to that point.
Some days it is daunting and exhausting...I just try to take a step back set aside the adoption paperwork and list of to-do's and just have a good cry or cocktail! After that and a day or too not thinking about the adoption stuff I usually am re-invigorated. Hang in there!